A question about bullets for a 308

[Quackaddict]

Hello all, I recently picked up a Savage 10 series rifle in 308 and am currently going through getting myself up to speed on bullets and loads for it. I am getting into reloading with the help of a friend who has done it for a while. I am not new to shooting, but I mainly play with rimfires and shotguns. I don't plan to use this rifle in any "tactical" style situation but I do like accurate rifles and I know how bullet weight and loads can affect this.

My question involves the process with which you develop a load, specifically how you all decide on a bullet or selection of bullets to use. Eventually I would like to develop two loads. First, an accurate round for paper and varmints, and secondly a hunting round for deer such as a nosler partition or barnes TSX.

Do you guys just pick a bullet and work with powder charges, bullet seating depth and powder type until you get it to shoot? Or do you try a variety of bullets with a standard load and go from there? It seems daunting the number of things you can mess with with making your own ammo.

With the 1 in 10 twist I would imagine something along the lines of the 168grn Amax, 155 sencar, 155 Amax, or the 168 SMK would be good starting points. Is there any one of these that stands out as a place to start? Max range I can go is 500 for now, and at 150yd the rifle shoots MOA with Hornaday factory Match ammo with 168 grn Amax. Thank you all for your opinions and time.

 

[Victor N TN]

Re: A question about bullets for a 308

For punching paper out to 300 yards I realy like 150 grain flat base bullets in a 308. For reaching out to 600 yards the 168 SMK works pretty well. For 1K I use 175 Bergers. For hunting I have always used Nosler Partitions in the 165 grain weight class. I'm currently working on loads for the Barnes X type bullets. But I have Noslers loaded for this season. I bought a ton of Nosler Partitions several years ago before I retired.

For the 150 grain bullets I really like Vithovouri (?) N-140 powder. For the 165 & 168s IMR 4895. For the 175s I use IMR 4064, Varget or RE-15.

Get a Lyman's Centerfire Handloading manual and study the Safety section really well. That particular manual has more USABLE information than 2 or 3 others. Read the safety section again. You'll find data for the powders I've mentioned. If not you can do a Google search on the powder makers name and download their loading specs. I'm not sure if they have the European powders or not.

I am not now, nor have I ever been a "sniper". But I've been hunting for just over 50 years. Good job of deciding what you want to do with it first then choosing a bullet. Then work up the loads. That's the way to go about it.

 

[Victor N TN]

Re: A question about bullets for a 308

I just noticed your post count. Welcome to The 'Hide. Here's my standard "canned" welcome.

Welcome to the Hide. Come on in and join the many and varied conversations.

If you know something about a given thread post your experience. If not, you're welcome to sit back and absorb what you wish.

Most of us older folk really appreciate it if you fill out your profile if you haven’t already.

Once again, nice to have you here.

 

[Quackaddict]

Re: A question about bullets for a 308

My thinking right now is to try and work up an Amax load because I can get them locally and relatively cheap, after searching the archives more I have seen some info that suggests that the Amax may work as a deer round to, which would simplify my life even more.

 

[918v]

Re: A question about bullets for a 308

If you like Hornady's load:

168gr A-Max
44.4grs Varget
WLR
2.8" OAL
Hornady, Winchester, or BHA brass.

You may need to up the load for use in fireformed brass.

 

[BOLTRIPPER]

Re: A question about bullets for a 308

you would do very well launching the Amax...........

 

[Greg Langelius *]

Re: A question about bullets for a 308

I choose a bullet according to applications and barrel length/twist. I then comb my loading manual page for the bullet, looking for a powder that shows both good velocity and high load density percentage.

With the bullet, the recommended OAL seating depth, and a single primer that's appropriate (match primers for match load, but only after developing with a standard primer, and then only if after development, the match primer shows marked accuracy improvement), I start ladder testing within the published limits of min and max.

I don't usually bother with OAL adjustments, with the exception of match loads that I single feed.

While load development and testing to find the absolute best accuracy is perhaps desirable, it's also wasteful.

For match loads, I stop when I find a repeatable accuracy level of 1/2MOA. For other applications, 1MOA is fine.

Greg

 

[desertHK]

Re: A question about bullets for a 308

would agree with the AMAX. With a 1:10 twist, you may even entertain the 178 grains AMAX. A good load with proper oomph behind a 178 grains can get you out a long way. That way you don't have to work up another load for longer range in the even that you want to push your distance longer.

 

[biglou13]

Re: A question about bullets for a 308

+ 1 for amax

i ended up with 178 amax

many here helped me fine tune a load

ended up with a load that consistently is sub .25 moa

and if i do my part and load long, sub .125

and still ring steel 600 plus

 

[MitchAlsup]

Re: A question about bullets for a 308

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Quackaddict</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Do you guys just pick a bullet and work with powder charges, bullet seating depth and powder type until you get it to shoot? Or do you try a variety of bullets with a standard load and go from there? </div></div>

My standard reloading disclaimer:

A skilled reloader can basically choose any match grade bullet, any set of cases, and any primer, and any powder and work up a load that shoots very well in one particular gun. Sure, a different set of choices somewhere along the path will result in ever so slightly better overall loading, but, realistically, you would need to be shooting matches for this to mater.

This extends to the reloading gear, also. Its the cleverness and skill of the reloader, not the tools themselves.

Here, we have shooters that like certain bullets {155 scenar, 175 SMK, 178 AMAX, <pick your favorite>}, certain cases {Lapua, Winchester}, certain powders {Varget, H4895, R-15, BL-C(2),...}, certain primers--all can be made to work well.

 

[KHOOKS]

Re: A question about bullets for a 308

I worked up a 178 amax load with the Hornady match brass prepped, br2 primers, & 44.5gr of RL-15. It shoots very while in my 1/12 twist LTR. I thoughts behind the load was a hunting round, 100-1000y's, mild load for long barrel life. I started at 43.5gr and work in half grain amounts up to 45.0. 44.5 is where the 10 round groups tighten up at. I stopped at that put I do need to fine tune it some more.

 

[Quackaddict]

Re: A question about bullets for a 308

Thank you all for your replies, I picked up some IMR 4895 today and finally found CCI Large rifle primers, it sounds from your replies I should be on the right track with the Amax bullets, I will probably try and spin either the 155's or the 168's, just because I can get them locally.

Greg, I understand what you mean when you talk about trying to squeeze every last drop of accuracy out of a load, if I can get to 1/2 MOA I would be very happy. From your suggestion, I will likley start with the recommended OAL and work with different powder charges, then mess with the OAL if I have to.

How much have BR primers made a difference in your experiences? Are they really worth the extra coin?

 

[Enios]

Re: A question about bullets for a 308

My Savage 10 FCP in 308 really, really likes 190 in the 1/10 twist. If you want one bullet to do it all I suggest the 165 AccuBond if you can find them. They shoot just as well as the SMK but the 165 SGK's we are trying right now are showing to be very very accurate in the hollow points. Little brothers 300WSM and 30-06 are showing them both to be very accurate. The 160 AB are cutting bullet holes in his 7MM RUM and one heck of a hunting bullet.

 

[Quackaddict]

Re: A question about bullets for a 308

I will not ever use another accubond ever! I shot 3 deer with them one year and had very poor performance, a friend of mine almost lost an elk to poor penetration from one in 300 win. Those bullets may be accurate but I will never load them for any game animal ever!

 

[badbot]

Re: A question about bullets for a 308

http://www.desertsharpshooters.com/manuals/incredload.pdf
this is a way to find a load without burning lots of cash

 

[Enios]

Re: A question about bullets for a 308

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Quackaddict</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I will not ever use another accubond ever! I shot 3 deer with them one year and had very poor performance, a friend of mine almost lost an elk to poor penetration from one in 300 win. Those bullets may be accurate but I will never load them for any game animal ever! </div></div>I know many people that use them and know of no one that's had to take more than one shot and all recovered bullets (not all were recovered) retained over 60% bullet weight and that was just one bullet the rest were over 70%. Sure you weren't using the ballistic tips? All I would use one of them for is Varmints.

 

[Quackaddict]

Re: A question about bullets for a 308

Very sure, factory loaded Federal red box in 270 win for the deer (140grn) and the 300 win was also factory ammo, shot one deer right in the boiler room, failed to pass through and almost lost it due to poor blood trail, if it hadn't been snowing we would ave lost it. Shot another in the neck at 50yds, the round hit the spine and grenaded, one big hole on one side of the neck. Did the job but should have passed.

 

[5R Milspec]

Re: A question about bullets for a 308

why not try the berger vld bullet.got them to shoot a 3/8" group at 100.and it didn't take much to get it too shoot that group.now I just need a deer to walk out in front of me to see what it will do.I have heard a lot of good talk about them.just haven't seen it for myself.when I get a chance to load it for my 308 I will work up a load for it.but for now I am useing them in a 300wm.but I all so like the 165g NBT.they work very good for me in my 308.put a nice 8 point down with a 165g NBT last year.one shot one kill,out to 100yrds.but then again its not really the bullet its the placement.like one gent said in another post.a rock at 2700 fps will kill a deer.